Mikal Bridges has signed a significant contract extension with the New York Knicks.
After firing Tom Thibodeau and finally changing him with Mike Brown, the New York Knicks have been addressing their different wants.
Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele arrived in free company, strengthening the staff’s depth, and with the core of their roster staying intact.
And the core will probably be sticking collectively long-term, with Mikal Bridges now signing a significant extension.
This was one of many largest wants on the Knicks ‘to do checklist’ after free company, to tie Bridges right into a long-term deal.
Bridges was set to enter the ultimate 12 months of his four-year $91 million contract, which the Knicks inherited once they traded for him.
Now he has signed a brand new deal, a four-year $150 million contract with a participant possibility for the 2029-30 season, ESPN report.
Mikal Bridges is without doubt one of the most dependable gamers within the NBA, taking part in in all 82 video games for the Knicks within the 2024-25 season.
His defensive impression within the playoffs helped them attain the Japanese Convention Finals, with key contributions within the collection win over the Boston Celtics.
Amid response to the extension, one widespread theme got here up. The Knicks had little possibility however to decide to Bridges.
One fan wrote: “For all these 1st spherical picks, actually had no alternative.”
One other added: “We had been mainly pressured to resign him because of the quantity of draft capital we traded to get him right here.”
A 3rd wrote: “Knicks had no different alternative however to resign Mikal Bridges. Nonetheless giving him 37.5 million per 12 months…”
A fourth added: “Search for Mike Brown to get way more out of him. Nice transfer.”
“Knicks had no alternative however to pay him,” one other added.
To amass Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets, the Knicks gave up a haul of first spherical picks, which teammate Josh Hart even admitted was an overpay.
Mikal Bridges was eligible for $156 million. He took a slight low cost of $6 million throughout the 4 years, which supplies the Knicks a tiny bit further flexibility.
It’s a substantial value both method, however had Bridges reached free company in 2026, he might have commanded much more on the open market.
The Knicks have prevented this by agreeing the extension, and likewise guaranteeing this isn’t a subject that serves as an undesirable distraction subsequent season.
